Match-box



J.KBEBLBR.

Y (NO'Model.)

MATCH BOX.

Patented Oct. 4, 1881.

ATTOQQBY.

itmsssst UNITED lSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS KEEBLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,765, dated October 4, 1881.

Application filed March 30, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Bc it known that I, JULIUs KEEBLEE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Match-Boxes, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view of the blank from which the match-box embodying my invention is formed. Fig. 2 is afi-ont view ofthe box. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section thereof. Fig. 4 is a bottomview thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of a match-box the parts ot' which areintegral, as hereinafter fully Yset forth and claimed.

Referrin g to the draWings,A represents the match-box, formed of one piece of metal or other suitable material, the blank whereof is shown in Fig. l, the same having the part B cut at one corner horizontally inward and downward, forming an L, as at a, and then at the bottom a short slit, b, in line with the vertical limb of the cut a. The part C adjoins the part B, the partD adjoinsthe part G, and the part E adjoins the partD. The top and bottom of the parts C E are cut away diagonally, as at c, and the bottom of' each part B D has at its center aconcident opening, d, and at its corners coincident cut-,away portions e. When the blank is folded into box form the part B is the back, the part D the front, and the parts G E the sides. Thelower portions ofthe partsB D aire folded at the lines fand their bottom edges brought together, forming the jaws F F. 'Ihe upper portions of the parts B D are folded at the lines g, forming the guards Gr G', it being noticed'that the guard G' is longer than the guard G, and that it extends under the latter, the two guards projecting inwardly from opposite sides of the box. The topB' of the part B, cutby the slit a, has an opening, a', for hanging the box on a nail, 85e., and clips h may be punched out of said top B' and the part B, for attaching the box to a back plate or board, H, which is provided with a striking surface, which may, however, be secured or applied to the front face of the box. The side edge of the part E is soldered or otherwise secured to the (No model.)

side edges of the part B and top B', and thus the box is ready for occupation and service.

The matches are inserted at the top of the box and fall horizontally through the throat lc, between the guards Gr G', and then drop to the bottom, where they are held by the jaws F, and partly exposed through the openings d. When a match is required it is grasped by the fingers at said openingsd and drawn down and out, the jaws separating to permit the removal of the match, and quickly closing to prevent escape of the remaining matches. The cut-away corners e cause enlarged spaces to be formed thereat when the jaws separate, and thus the head of the match is relieved of frictional contact with the jaws as the match is drawn out, whereby ignition ot' the match is prevented. The two jaws F F converge and allow only a single match to enter between them at theirlowest portions, and also exert uniform pressure on the match from opposite sides thereof', so that the unintentional escape of the matches through the bottom is prevented, and when intended to be removed butone match at a time is removed, it being noticed that the jaws form springs by their inherent elasticity.

Should the box be overturned, the guards G G' and front and back of the box form troughs, into which the matches roll, and as the throat 7c is guarded by the longer guard G', the escape ofthe matches is prevented.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The box A, having a back, B, and front, D, connected by the side pieces, C, integral therewith, top guards, Gr G',and bottom jaws, F F, which are integral with said back and front, respectively, the integral suspension part, B', and side part, E, made from the blank herein described, substantially as set forth.

2. The match-box blank consisting of the back part, B, side part, C, front part, D, side part, E, the bottom-jaw portions F F, with coincident openings d, top suspension part, B', and guard portions Gr G', forming all parts of the box of one piece ot' material properly folded and secured, as stated.

J ULIUS KEEBLER.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WLEDERSHEIM, W. F. KIRCHEE. 

